Nanny Dearest (5 page)

Chapter Four

Joel hadn't been too disappointed when Terry told him he was moving out once he'd accepted the nanny position with Hunter Monroe.

"Being a full-time nanny is an opportunity of a lifetime," Joel said as they sat across from each other at the small dinette table in their dorm room. "But I am going to miss you fussing at me for not eating right."

"Just think. You can have the room all to yourself and sneak girlfriends in without worrying about me coming in ruining the moment."

"Yeah, I just have them lined up waiting to get in here," he said sarcastically. "But this move is going to suck for you. You'll be housed up with two other guys now and won't be able to sneak any girls into your room."

"I don't think I have to worry about sneaking girls into my room at the moment," Terry said. "Besides I'll be busy watching over a very precocious one-year-old. I swear Chase has a thing for my hair. He prefers it down, I think."

Joel looked at him oddly. "What about his father, does he prefer your hair down too?"

Terry looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Joel sighed. "Terry, my friend, you wear your emotions on your sleeve. Look, I don't want to preach or tell you how to live your life. Just be careful."

"I will," Terry said. "I'm just so confused."

"Do you love him?"

Terry shrugged. "I don't know what I feel," Terry admitted with a sigh. "I just know I get all flustered when he looks at me. I know it's wrong but I get this warm feeling when we talk and I feel at home when I'm there… like I belong."

"I hope you're right about this. Don't get too comfortable because you're now the hired help."

"Yes, I know."

"Does he feel the same way about you?"

Terry blushed. "I don't know. I don't intend to do anything to encourage him. He has enough problems on his shoulders without my adding to them."

"What sort of problems?" Joel asked.

"Chase's grandparents are trying to sue Hunter for custody. Apparently they don't think a single man can raise a child."

"It's going to be harder for him when they find out he's gay."

Terry stared at him. "How do you know he's gay? He is Chase's father. They look alike."

"The man puts a smile on your face just by looking at you. He finds you attractive enough to think you're model material. He knows about cosmetics and how to accessorize."

"Knowing how to apply makeup does not mean he's gay."

"You've visited his house a couple of times. Have you ever seen any indication that a woman has been there? Has he mentioned a woman or gone out on a date since you've met him?"

"Well, no, but not dating still doesn't mean he's gay."

"Has he gotten an erection in your presence?"

Terry grimaced, remembering last night's little fiasco. "Getting an erection still does not mean anything."

Joel laughed. "You are so naïve. Just take the relationship slow. If it's love, there's no obstacle you can't overcome and besides, Chase already adores you, Mama."

Terry blushed. "I am so cutting this hair."

Joel went back to his meal. "So when am I going to meet Mr Monroe?"

"Tomorrow, when you help me move my things over to his mansion. He asked me to invite you to dinner. He wants to meet you."

"Already? Wow, he moves fast."

"He knows I don't have any family."

"Does he know you're a virgin?"

Terry shook his head. "No, how is he supposed to know? It's bad enough you know."

Joel chuckled. "Do you blush around him like you're doing now?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Why?"

Joel continued to laugh. "He knows."

* * * *

"This is my friend, Joel Chevron," Terry said when they arrived at the mansion. "Joel, this is Mr Hunter Monroe, my new boss."

Hunter dangled a set of keys in front of Terry. "These are yours. Nice to meet you, Joel."

"Come on, let's get you moved in."

"Where's Chase?" Terry asked as he opened the back of his car.

"He's in the playpen watching Sesame Street and playing with his toys." He picked up a box and led the way up the stairs. "Let's take these to your room."

Terry and Joel followed Hunter into the house and down the hall to a room next to the nursery. He opened the door. "I hope you like it."

"Wow," Joel said as they stepped inside the suite of rooms. "This place is larger than our dorm room." He put his box down on the floor.

Chase's giggle came through the baby monitor perched on a dresser. The room had a huge king size bed, a dresser and an armoire containing a wide-screen television and a DVD player.

Hunter put his box down. "The bathroom is over there next to your office," he said, pointing. "And this is your closet."

Terry put the box down and walked over and peered inside. "
This
is bigger than our dorm room."

"Do you like the room?" Hunter asked.

"What's not to like?" Terry answered.

They went back down and finished unloading the car. After they washed up, Hunter took them into the den. "Look who's here, sport."

Chase stopped playing at the sound of his father's voice. He looked at Hunter's face and then froze when he gazed over at Joel.

"Joel, this is Chase."

Joel tried to pick up the child but Chase shied away.

"Naughty boy," Terry said.

Chase looked around Joel. "Ma-ma."

Joel moved over so Chase could see Terry and laughed. "Oh, my god, it's true."

Chase scooted into Terry's outstretched arms and wrapped them around Terry's neck to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm happy to see you too, big guy? Are you ready to eat dinner?"

"I ordered Chinese food," Hunter said. "I hope you don't mind."

"I don't," Joel replied following them into the kitchen. "But Terry's not too keen on fast food."

"Too many calories and not enough nutrients," Terry replied. "But that doesn't mean I don't eat takeout occasionally." He put Chase into the highchair.

The table held several small white containers of food and sodas.

Terry opened the refrigerator.

"What are you doing?" Hunter asked.

"I'm about to prepare Chase's dinner."

"But I ordered noodles."

Terry turned around scowling. "Not on my watch," he replied. "There's no way he's getting salt. He's going to have Uncle Terry's special macaroni and cheese." He went to work preparing the food while the other two men ate.

"Is he usually this bossy?" Hunter asked Joel.

Joel nodded. "He and I are the healthiest guys on the campus. He makes me watch what I eat."

"And how many times have you been ill?" Terry asked as he began pureeing the cooked macaroni. Chase watched in utter fascination. Terry added some low fat milk to thin the consistency then poured the mixture into a bowl, sat down next to Chase and began feeding him.

Chase was very talkative throughout the entire meal in between chews.

"I think I need to video tape this," Hunter said. "Normally he's pitching food, dumping bowls and making me duck for cover."

"Throwing food is just his way of showing he loves you," Terry replied, wiping Chase's chin with a towel.

"He can't be that bad," Joel said. "Let me feed him."

Terry handed the bowl over to him.

Joel scooped the food and fed Chase.

Terry and Hunter watched.

Chase moved the food around in his mouth and bunched up his lips.

"Get ready to duck," Hunter warned Joel.

Joel moved just in time as Chase spat the food at him.

"See," Hunter stated. "The only person he doesn't do that to is Terry."

Terry retrieved the bowl and began feeding Chase again. When he was finished he cleaned Chase up.

Chase grabbed for Terry's hair.

"Terry's hair fascinates Chase," Hunter said.

Chase reached over and grabbed Terry's hair, pulling it free from the elastic band.

Terry's hair fell in front of his face blinding him.

"Ma-ma," Chase said, giggling.

Hunter and Joel laughed.

Terry put the bowl and towel down to fix his hair. While he was doing this Chase reached for the bowl and hurled the food at Hunter and Joel. "Not so funny now," Terry said, still fighting to gain control of his hair.

"Is he too young for reform school?" Hunter asked.

Joel shook his head. "Maybe a good military school would be your best bet."

Terry cleaned up the mess, making sure he kept his hair at a safe distance from Chase. "Don't you dare think about it," he warned as Chase tried to grab his hair. "Uncle Terry is getting a haircut."

"No," Hunter and Joel protested.

"Why are you saying no?" Terry asked Joel.

"I like your hair. It makes you look like an anime character."

"What's an anime character?" Hunter asked.

"Don't ask," Terry warned.

"It's a Japanese cartoon character. Terry is more like one of the characters in a yaoi manga."

"What's yaoi?" Hunter asked.

"Don't ask," Terry told him again as he gave Chase some dry baby cereal to occupy himself with while he sat down and ate his dinner. "Remind me to kill you," he told Joel.

"Yaoi is manga written mostly by women featuring gay characters. Usually it involves a muscular older man and a younger more effeminate male with big wide eyes, long hair and a beautiful face."

"Terry does have nice hair," Hunter replied.

Joel agreed.

Terry rolled his eyes at his roommate. "Yuck. You guys are horrible. Stop fantasizing about my hair."

"Where can I find manga?" Hunter asked Joel.

* * * *

Hunter got up and went off to work the next morning leaving Chase alone all day with Terry for the first time. He called home a couple of times to check on them and Terry assured him they were fine. The rest of the morning Hunter spent in meetings trying to come up with an ad campaign for the upcoming Father's Day promotion.

"We need a fresh face," one of the female marketers named Becky said. "One that appeals to women between the ages of fifteen and forty."

"Who's available in Hollywood?" Hunter asked.

"No one fresh enough for this," Becky assured him. "Get an unknown, someone gorgeous and sexy and those products will fly off the shelves."

"Do I know any unknowns?" Hunter asked.

"Why don't you ask Terry and Joel," Adam suggested.

"Who are Terry and Joel?" Another marketer named Rachel asked.

"Two seniors over at the university. One of them used to babysit for me and one used to date my niece. You need to see these guys. They're stunning."

He'd invited Adam in on the meeting because he was the best talent agents in town and usually helpful when he needed a model for a campaign. Hunter frowned. So that's how he knew them so well.

"Why don't you call them in?" Adam suggested.

"Can't," Hunter replied. "Terry is working and Joel is preparing for his final exams."

"Nonsense," Adam said. "What if I call and ask them. What harm could it do?"

Terry could get pretty pissed at him, and besides what would he do with Chase during the photo shoot?

Adam picked up a phone and dialed. "Joel. This is Uncle Adam. How would you and Terry like to make a lot of money and have a lot of fun?" He put the young man on speakerphone.

"What do I have to do?" Joel asked.

"Hunter is looking for two models for his Father's Day ad campaign."

"I don't mind," Joel replied. "But I can't speak for Terry."

"I bet he'd model if you do it," Adam said.

"Not necessarily so," Joel replied. "He has issues."

"What type of issues?" Adam asked.

"He's shy and he thinks people will mistake him for a girl if he models."

"Nonsense. Where is he? Is he in class?"

"No," Joel answered. "He's got a full-time job. He's working for Hunter Monroe."

All eyes turned on Hunter.

"Oh, what kind of work is he doing for Mr Monroe?" Adam asked.

"He's babysitting Chase."

"Thanks," Adam said. "I'll get back to you in a few minutes. Let me call Terry." Adam disconnected the phone and dialed Hunter's home phone number.

"Hello, Monroe residence," Terry said.

"Terry, this is Adam Becall."

"Oh, hello, Mr Becall. How can I help you?"

"I have a proposition for you. I'm in a meeting and I have you on speakerphone. How would you like to help out on an ad campaign for Mr Monroe's company?"

"Sorry, I don't have any time to do such things," Terry replied.

Hunter smirked.

"Yes, I know. You're watching Chase. But what if we can find a way for you to bring Chase with you."

"That would not be responsible," Terry said.

"It's okay," Hunter finally said. "I'll watch Chase here at the office if you agree to do the photo shoot and a couple of commercials."

"Do you want me to come, Mr Monroe?" Terry said.

Yes he did. "Pack Chase up and drive over to my office so you can meet these nice people."

"Yes, sir," Terry said. "I'll be there shortly." He hung up.

Adam called Joel back. "He said he would model for Hunter. Can you come right over here and meet some of our people? They want to get started as soon as possible."

"I'm on my way," Joel replied.

Hunter frowned at Adam, knowing modeling was the last thing Terry wanted to do.

Chapter Five

Joel was the first to arrive, dressed to impress in a dark suit and white dress shirt. He'd shaved off his budding beard and mustache and gotten a fresh haircut. The women were on him before he got in the door, complimenting him on his green eyes and his naturally curly blond hair.

"He's perfect," Becky said with a contented sigh.

The door opened and Terry entered carrying Chase and a diaper bag. His son was dressed in a little sailor suit and hat that matched the teddy bear he clutched.

Terry was also dressed in a suit, a navy one with a light blue dress shirt. The color brought out the true blueness of his eyes. His glorious black mane was pulled to the back in a neat ponytail and most of his exquisite features were hidden behind his glasses.